Umbrella



Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

NITVED STATES Louis A. CAPALDO, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

UMBRELLA.

Application filed June 24, 1926. Serial No. 118,147.

My invention relates to a new and improved form of parasol, umbrella or the like. One of the objects of my invention to devise a. construction whereby the tops of the ribs of the umbrella, parasol or the like will be securely held so as to impart an ornamental effect to the umbrellaor the like when it is in the closed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this type in which the tops of the ribs will be held securely and in a self-locking manner so that it will require positive pressure below the tops of the said ribs to enable them to be released. Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, itbeing understood that the above general. statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner. 1

Fig. 1 is a detail elevation partially in section, showing the ribs of the umbrella in the free or unlocked position.

Fig. 2 illustrates the parts shown in Fig. 1, the umbrella ribs being in the locked position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a top view partially in section.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device in the closed position. I

The parasol, umbrella or the like is provided with the ordinary stick 17 to the bottom of which the bottom ends of the ribs can be connected in the well known manner. The stick 1? is provided with an extension 16 by means of which it is held in position in the usual manner in the socket member 15 of the umbrella- This socket member 15 has an outer conical or tapering shape and it is provided with an outer slidable sleeve 14 whose interior wall has a similar corre sponding or tapered shape.

When the device is assembled, the socket member 15 is introduced into the outer sleeve 14 through the relatively wide top of the said sleeve 14 and it then drops into the position shown in Fig. 1. i

In this-position the outer sleeve 14 can be moved downwards with respect to the socket member 15, but it cannot be moved upwards.

The outer sleeve 14 has a head 12 connected thereto in any suitable manner. This head 12 is provided with an inner annular recess 13 and the outer wall of this annular recess is provided with an inwardly inclined flange, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The top 14 of the sleeve 14 has an outer wall which is preferably inwardly curved and the bottom 14 of the sleeve 14 is preferably provided with a thickened wall.

The umbrella has fabric 10 which is connected to ribs having tops 11.

I have not described the specific construction of the parasol or umbrella as this in itself is old and well known.

Vhen the spherical tops 11 of the ribs are pressed against the outside of the sleeve 14, the sleeve 14 can be pushed downwardly so that the tops 11 of the ribs are forced into the annular recess 13.

Since the recess 13 has an inwardly inthis has been accomplished by a lateral pressure upon the ribs of the umbrella, the head 12 can be readily moved into the position shown in Fig. 1. Since the head 12 positively engages the enlarged tops 11 of the ribs of the umbrella, this maintains the parts in the telescoped position shown in Fig. 2 when the device is not in use. If the head 12 merely surrounded the tops of the ribs of the umbrella, the parts would assume the position shown'in Fig. 1, unless special latch means or the like were employed. Even if the stick and the slidable head have a frictional fit which tends to hold them in the telescoped position, the releasable engagement of the head with the ribs of the umbrella is advantageous, because it serves to connect said stick and said head. The tapered member 15 and the sleeve 14 are both rigid. 1

and strong device made of a minimum number of parts, which do not depend upon interconnecting pins or similar breakable con nections.

It is obvious that the device presents a highly ornamental appearance, that it is very compact, and that it is free from projecting parts and has the appearance of an ordinary umbrella or parasol.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim 1. In combination with the ribs of an umbrella, a rigid member connected to the top of the stick of the umbrella, said member having an upwardly and outwardly tapered outer wall, a rigid sleeve slidably mounted upon the said member and having a tapered inner wall whose contour corresponds to the contour of the outer wall of the said member, and means connected to the said sleeve and adapted to engage the tops of the ribs of the umbrella so as to hinder the relative sliding movement of said sleeve with respect to said member.

2. In combination with the ribs of an umbrella, a member of permanentcontour connected to the stick of the umbrella and having an upwardly and outwardly tapered wall, a sleeve of permanent contour slidably mounted upon said member and having a tapered inner wall whose contour corresponds to the contour of the outer wall of said member, said sleeve having an enlarged member connected thereto above the bottom thereof, said enlarged member having an annular recess which the tops of the ribs are adapted to enter.

3. In combination with the ribs of an umbrella,- a member connected to the stick of the umbrella, said member having an upwardly and outwardly tapered outer wall, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the said member and having a tapered inner wall whose contour corresponds to the contour of the outer wall of the said member, said sleeve having a head provided with an annular recess whose outer wall is inwardly inclined, said recess being adapted to receive the tops of the ribs of the umbrella, the adjacent tapered walls of the said member and of the said sleeve being adapted to move freely with respect to each other, and being free tromany restraining means adapted to hinder said relative free movement.

4. A device according to claim 3 in which the top of the outer wall of the said sleeve is inwardly directed so that the thickness of the top portion of the wall of the said sleeve is less than the thickness of the body portion thereof.

5. In an umbrella, the combination of a stick having the ribs connected thereto, a top member mounted upon the said stick and slidable with respect thereto in a limited path, said top member having a head adapted to releasably engage the tops of the said ribs so as to connect the said stick and the said member while they are in telescoped position.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

LOUIS A. CAPALDO. 

